terraneous habitations, and had enjoyed only a vague | Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understandreport of the existence and power of the gods, should ing hath he established the heavens. O Lord, how suddenly emerge into the light and lustre of the world manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them we inhabit, they would no sooner behold the earth, and all." sea, and sky, or understand the regular order of the seasons and the vastness of the heavenly bodies, than they would at once acknowledge both the existence of superior powers, and that these wonders were of their creation." The portion of the divine works, in which our habitation has been fixed, has unquestionably undergone an immense change, in consequence of the fall, by which every department of nature has been more or less affected, but the workmanship still proves itself of God. There is not only power manifested, but a striking and inimitable beauty, interwoven with wisdom and goodness, painted on the face and over the whole arrangements of his hands here below; and from the high vantage ground on which we stand, instructed not only in the Word, but intimately acquainted with the works of God, we cannot fail to be deeply impressed with the sentiment which was felt by the king of Israel, who asserted that "God hath made every thing beauti-points of the Americas. Melville Island and New ful in his time."

The department of nature which it is first proposed to consider, as an illustration of these remarks, may appear, at first sight, but little calculated to enforce the truth of them. The surface of the earth is pleasingly diversified, and, at every season of the year, presents a thousand objects of attraction. But in the dead, inert, immoveable masses beneath, the barren rock, the stiff clay, the colourless metals, where all seems confusion and disorder, what have we here in any way calculated | to interest the heart or to excite feelings of piety? Much every way; and without aiming at any thing like a regular system of geological research, a few instances may be given, which may not be unacceptable, nor, perhaps, without instruction to the general reader. I shall carefully avoid all mere theoretic or speculative points, and confine myself solely to the acknowledged facts of the science, nor will the illustrations which I shall select cause me to depart, in the least, from the literal received interpretation of Scripture. Technical terms shall also, as much as possible, be avoided.

The first condition of the earth, of which we have any historical notice, is that which is represented in Genesis, where, after the declaration that God was the original Creator of all things, we are told of a period and condition of things when the whole of its materials were "without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep." The Spirit of God moved upon the surface of the shapeless mass, when the various elements of air, earth, and water gradually assumed their respective positions, and darkness, confusion, and disorder gave place to light, symmetry, and harmony. The form which the earth assumed, upon these arrangements being completed, as philosophy has demonstrated, was that of a spherical body flattened at the poles, that is, a figure resembling, as nearly as possible, the appearance of an orange, which is compressed at both ends. This form, as is farther demonstrated by strict mathematical principles, is precisely the one which a fluid body, revolving round its axis, and acquiring solidity at its surface, by the slow dissipation of its heat or other causes, would ultimately assume. There is reason to believe, therefore, that every part of the solid mass of the earth is symmetrically arranged, and that every individual particle occupies the position which divine wisdom has assigned to it. The vegetable and animal forms around us are composed of the same material substances, the same constituent elements, as those of which the globe itself is constructed, and the Divine Spirit, which so exquisitely modelled these forms and made them instinct with life, moved upon the face of the waters, and impressed upon the whole the unity, regularity, and adaptation which prevail among the separate parts. The

Considering the infinite variety of plants and animals which abound in the earth, one might have been led to expect a similar diversity in its mineral contents. But very different is the fact. The labours of the chemist have discovered fifty-two simple bodies, and these actually constitute the elements of all the material substances with which we are acquainted, as entering into the stony crust of the earth. The gems and other crystallized bodies are, indeed, numerous; the carbonate of lime alone assuming no less than about five hundred different forms. But the great aggregate masses of the earth are not only limited in number, but nearly uniform in composition, texture, and structure, over the entire surface. Great Britain is an epitome of the globe. The same hard, sharp, serrated rocks, which compose our insular mountain ranges, mark the snowy peaks of the Alps, and form a barrier to the ocean at the extreme

South Wales possess the same series of sandstone, lime, and coal, which occur in the midland districts of England and Scotland. The granite of Aberdeen, and the syenite of Skye, can boast of a texture as compact and crystalline as those enduring masses out of which the Pharaohs built the pyramids. The condition of the interior is also indicated by the phenomena of volcanoes; these subterranean fires abound in every region of the globe, and burn as intensely under the snows of Iceland as within the range of the tropics. The influence of climate is strikingly manifested in the distribution of plants and animals; every newly discovered country adding something to our zoological and botanical collections. The mineral kingdom, as far as the nature of rocks is concerned, is alike independent of atmos pheric influences, and geographical arrangements; from our travellers and voyagers, go where they will, geology receives no farther advantage than a corroboration of some previously established principle; nor, although it cannot be determined beforehand of what particular class of rocks an unexplored country is likely to be composed, is there reason to believe, that any new series or order of rocks remains to be discovered, from the one pole to the other, materially different from those with which we are already acquainted.

There must, therefore, be some system or principle of arrangement prevailing among the minerals of the earth, before the geologist could feel himself warranted in pronouncing, so decidedly, as to the entire superficies of the globe. This, accordingly, is the fact. Rocks have not been indiscriminately heaped together. They have been superimposed upon each other in the most perfect order. When God fixed "the foundations of the earth," stretched his compass "upon the face of the deep," and laid "the beams of his chambers in the waters," he completed the mighty edifice agreeably to the plan which he had determined upon from the beginning: the different portions of the building rise one above another in regular succession; and the finished work, so far as we can survey the interior, displays, by the most unequivocal indications, the several courses into which the materials have been thrown. These constitute what geologists call the strata of the earth, that is, compressed or flattened layers, of varying thickness, such as our sand and limestones exhibit, and which envelope the circumference of the globe. The order in which the strata are disposed is uniform from below upwards, and this order is never inverted. From the blue slates of the Grampians to the chalk cliffs at Dover, there is a regular succession of intermediate rocks, piled one up on another like the mason-work of our houses; and, while to many there appears nothing but confusion, to the scientific eye, every portion of the series, although

prepares our mind to expect it. It is thoroughly | bably the wise man of this world tells us it is new, and, not improbably, the darkness, and the owing to the natural motion of the earth round wetness, and the dreariness of winter, through the sun; that in spring the earth is in that part which we have passed, make the spring more of her course which subjects her surface to the beautiful than other seasons. Hence it is that powerful and increasing influence of the sun; spring has always drawn a large share of atten- that it is light and heat which work all the changes tion. The heathen have worshipped it like a which we admire so much. There is something in goddess, and it is among the first and most fre- this account which is true. God brings about quent objects celebrated in the verses of the poet. the changes of the year through the medium of second causes, and light and heat have great power over the spring, but this does not exhaust the truth; and it is to be feared the atheism of man often shelters itself under the names and laws of nature, that it may not be disturbed with the thought of a present God. Even where God commits the changes of the seasons to second instruments, he seems, for wise reasons, to retain so much of the power in his own hands, as to remind men that the changes are from him. Thus, while it is true that the seasons are produced by the particular form or inclination through which the earth passes in her course round the sun, the question presents itself, why does the earth revolve in this form and not in another? There is no doubt that she might be carried in motion round the sun without producing that variety of heat which gives rise to the seasons. And I know of no law in nature or philosophy which determines that she shall revolve in this form, and invariably abide by it, save the will and immediate operation of God; and, therefore, as to the heat and light of the sun, the whole change of spring cannot be ascribed to them. They manifestly exert a powerful influence, but who has not seen the flower blossoming amidst severest cold? and how is it, if heat were the sole cause, that the trees and fields do not begin their spring in the last rather than in the first months of the year? For the most part, the heat of the one period is greater than that of the other. But the spring never departs from her course. She does not anticipate her season, whether there be warmth or whether there be cold, and to what can this be attributed but the visitation of God?

I need not attempt to describe it, as its features are marked and well known to all. Let me only carry back your thoughts for a little. Winter covers the earth in frost, or snow, or storms, light is brief. Everything in nature may be said to be at a stand, and to savour of the silence and death of the sepulchre. Thoughtless men may complain, and think such a state of things derogatory to the character of God, and that it would be much better had there been no winter; but these are the suggestions of ignorance. The earth must rest as well as man, to prepare for ensuing fertility. The snows of winter protect the seeds of vegetation; its storms purify the atmosphere from a thousand noxious influences, which, if stagnant, might descend upon us in fever or in plague. Its frosts and rains are essential to the due preparation of the soil, and to the destruction of its weeds; and, moreover, it has been ordered, that our winter gives to other and to mighty nations the benefit of summer, and thus is the general happiness more widely diffused and spread among a greater number of individuals than had winter never fallen upon the earth. The removal of winter from the seasons of the year would be no gain; it would, ere long, prove a serious loss. But it does not last for ever. It would be dismal if it did. Soon the days lengthen the snow and the frost disappear-the weather is moderated, and man is ready for his labour-and now a remarkable change appears through all nature. Buds, concealed under the ground, or guarded by the wisest protection against the severity of winter, swell and expand into leaves, or blossoms, or shoots. The juices of trees, so long asleep, now awake, and push through all their parts, and array the branches in green. The influence is everywhere felt and manifested where man's eye reaches, and where it reaches not. The winds, so wisely ordered, dry up the superfluous moisture from the earth. Man goes forth to his labour. The air is elastic and serene, and almost invites to exertion. There is no sultry heat to weary him in his work, and the mornings and the evenings enlarge to suit his protracted labours. The flowers are dressed in the gayest bloom, the birds warble in the woods their sweetest music, and gladden creation with their song. All the animal tribes partake of the impulse of life, and cheer man in his undertakings. Universal nature becomes green to the eye, and harmony to the ear. Bright are the heavens, and still brighter the prospects. What a change from the snow, and the darkness, and the death of winter!

And what has caused this great change? Pro

These views are amply confirmed by the Scriptures, which, instead of explaining away God's presence even from the most common and regular changes of the world, ascribe to him a near, and personal, and perpetual operation. Never do they, like man, exclude God from the government of his own world, and put up names, and laws, and shadows, in his room. We are told that all creation is from God,—that the heaven and the earth were founded by him, that the grass, and the herbs, and the trees, and the animals, grow at his word,-that the very day and night come and depart at his bidding. And, surely, if God created at first, it must be the same Being who preserves from day to day; for what is preservation, strictly examined, but continual creation, and if God extends his care to so many smaller changes, surely he must exercise the same care over the larger movements of the world. If he rules over day and night, he must rule over the seasons.

In accordance with such presumptions, we read, | but that he constantly renews its surface! What "Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; Thou an opportunity does this afford us of proving hast made summer and winter," and if summer and God's perpetual providence, and of marking the winter, certainly also spring and autumn, which exemplification of his character! How does this divide them. We read in the 75th Psalm, after enlarge the provision of food for man and beast, a beautiful description of the great operations and multiply the sources of happiness, by annually of nature, "Thou waterest the ridges thereof restoring and renovating the earth! And then abundantly; thou settlest the furrows thereof; what wisdom appears in the circumstances in which thou makest it soft with showers; thou blessest the spring presents itself! It comes forth gradually the springing thereof." In our text it is said, from small beginnings; it does not burst upon us "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, and they," both in a day. We could not be prepared for this, and animal and vegetable life, "are created," not ab- the shock of so sudden a transition would prove solutely but substantially, for spring closely resem- hurtful to us, and to the whole living creation. bles a creation. "Thou renewest the face of the There is, therefore, a dawn of preparation, and we earth. Sing unto the Lord who covereth the are freed from perplexity and surprise. Where, howheavens with clouds, who prepareth rain for the ever, as in very cold climates, the season of vegetaearth, who maketh grass to grow upon the moun- tion and maturity is short, God compensates for tains." The same doctrine is taught in the epistle the brevity by hastening forward the spring with to the Corinthians, when inculcating another and amazing rapidity. Without this kind provision a spiritual truth, "Paul may plant and Apollos the inhabitants must have perished. water, but it is God alone who giveth the increase," Think, again, how loudly the season speaks in who maketh the seed to grow, one of the grand behalf of the faithfulness of God. Immediately operations of spring. It appears, then, that what-after the deluge God promised there should be ever may be the instruments of which God makes use in carrying forward the seasons, instruments whose adaptation to the service may well fill us with gratitude and praise, the whole must always be referred to himself; that though we see him not, it is God who makes the spring, and leads forward the course of the year, and terminates it in winter; and, moreover, that he leaves part of the operation unexplored by natural causes, that we may more readily acknowledge his hand.

Having seen that God is the great Author of spring, let us now consider the manifestations which it affords of the divine character. We would expect it to speak of God, and our expectations are not disappointed. Spring proclaims God's power. Contemplating nature in the midst of winter, we never could anticipate the arrival of spring; all seems dead, hopelessly dead, the grass is withered to the ground, the trees are without a leaf, not a flower meets the eye. Perhaps frost and snow cover the earth, and scarcely leave to it the same appearance. At this moment, were the whole force of men and animals employed, no sign of vegetation could be produced; no skill could form a single flower. How immense, then, the divine energy which, in a few weeks, perfectly changes all the scene, which, without effort or labour, brings plants and flowers in countless millions out of the earth, all varying in their hues, and structures, and properties, and yet all springing from one common material-dust! Though the most powerful men were assigned but a small space, and most favourable circumstances, they could not create a bud or a blossom, but God, at every return of spring, creates over the vast surface of the earth, and in most disadvantageous circumstances, the mightiest array of vegetable productions.

Then spring proclaims God's wisdom. How great is the wisdom that the year is divided into seasons at all, that God did not create the world at first, in one form, and then allow it to stand still for ever,

seed-time and harvest to the end of the world, and through four thousand years how exactly has this been fulfilled! Great changes may have passed over men and nations, but spring has regularly appeared at her appointed season; she never forgot to come, nor did she ever come out of her proper order. Dismal, indeed, would have been the condition of man, had she ever done so; but no, her succession has been most beautiful and regular, faithful like the God from whom she flows, and sweetly whispering that if God be so trustworthy in nature, he will not be less faithful in the promises of grace. But while the returns of spring are so regular and true, there is wisely blended along with them a measure of uncertainty as to the precise nature and duration of the season. Had man known to an hour, when the spring was to begin, and what was to be its heat, and how long it was to last, he might have been tempted to be slothful and improvident. God, then, has mercifully withheld such knowledge from him, and given just enough of regularity to the spring, to fulfil his own promise and awaken man's expectation without inducing inactivity and remissness.

And, lastly, how strongly does the spring proclaim the goodness of God! Many, perhaps all the grand operations of this season could be carried forward effectually, without ministering to our happiness. Though the flowers were not so beautiful, nor the earth so verdant, man might have lived, and successfully laboured, and the spring might have been perfect. But God, in his providence, would add to our enjoyment, and so he clothes all nature in charms. He superinduces beauty upon use; the air is serene, and the light is pleasant, and the flowers are fragrant, and the sky is blue, and the earth is green, and the woods are vocal. These might all have been reversed, and spring still fulfilled her course, but God has crowded them into this season of the year to testify his providential goodness. And how is that goodness

illustrated by his renewing the spring every year! | It is to be reaped not merely in time, but in eterHe does not create it once or twice merely. Had he nity. What you sow now will affect your condone so we would still have had strong evidence of dition for ever. What does an ignorant or slothhis kindness, but he multiplies the evidence. He ful husbandman, who neglects the spring, reap? gives us ever recurring occasions to celebrate his He reaps weeds, and bankruptcy, and disgrace. praise; and in the progress of every spring what Take care that your harvest be not equally unproa successive expansion is there of the proofs of his fitable and destructive. Think not that the slugprovidence! How do the flowers, for instance, gard shall reap the fruits of industry, or that he burst forth in successive orders. Had they been who sows to the flesh shall reap incorruption. all unfolded in a day, they would most likely have Diligently avail yourselves of the means of intelwithered together, and the eye would have been so lectual, moral, and religious good, which God, and distracted that it could not have considered them your country, and your friends have provided for all. But there is a beautiful succession suited to you, and both here and hereafter you shall have a the progress of the season. We see more of God's glorious and a golden harvest. goodness, and we have leisure to contemplate it more accurately. It is like the goodness of creating the world in six days, rather than creating it in a moment.

Thus have we seen how many and important perfections of the divine character are displayed in spring. Men, for the most part, behold none of these things in this season of the year. They account spring a matter of course, and its blessings so common as not to merit any special notice. But this disposition is far wrong. It dishonours God and despises his goodness; the very regularity and frequency of the returns, instead of making men insensible, should have the opposite effect. They are proofs of God's faithfulness, and of the perpetuity of his care, and should be esteemed the more highly just because they are so common. Should bread be less valued because it does not come once a month, or a year, but every day? Let the changes of spring, then, be marked. Let them not be resolved into cold and heartless laws. Let them all be attributed to God's pervading providence.

And now we shall conclude with a reference to a few great events and truths, of which spring may be considered as an emblem. Spring is the image of youth. Attend to this my young friends. It is to the year what your present period is to your after-life. There is no image more plain, or common, or established than this. We speak of the spring of youth, and the summer of manhood, and the autumn of years, and the winter of age. Now you are in the spring, probably the most beautiful, certainly the most useful and important season. It is more precious even than autumn, for every thing is dependent upon spring. If there are no buds and no blossoms there can be no fruits, however favourable may be the summer. Now what is your great duty as to this season? It is diligently to improve it for all the noble purposes for which it is given; to be diligent for time, and to be diligent for eternity, to prepare for the duties of this life, and the enjoyments of the next. Spring you know is the seed-time, and how busy is the gardener and the husbandman in this season; they are ploughing, and sowing, and harrowing the ground; they are employing all their exertions, God willing, to have an abundant harvest. They are working early and late. And should not you do the same? Your harvest is still more precious.

Again, spring is the emblem of the resurrection of the body from the dust of the grave. This is not a mere resemblance, which the fancy of man has discovered, it is an illustration and an argument which the Apostle Paul employs, when discoursing on this great doctrine. "But some man will say, how are the dead raised, and with what body do they come; thou fool," or ignorant man, "that which thou sowest is not made alive except" it first seem to "die;" the corn rots and goes to decay before it springs anew, (1 Cor. xv. 37-42,) so also is the resurrection of the dead body. "It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption." Looking over the earth in the midst of winter, one can see nothing but the emblems of death,-withered grass, and leafless trees, and dark and cheerless earth-all seems dead, as dead as the corpse stretched in its tomb; but spring returns, God exerts his almighty but invisible power, and soon all nature revives. Life bursts from every tree and every field, nay, bursts in fresher and more beautiful forms, in gayer colours and sweeter music, than those with which it left the world, a few months before; no spot, however distant and inaccessible, escapes this great annual resurrection; all is made to live again, the aged tree, the blossoming shrub. Now as it is, and has been with the natural world, so it shall be with man on the great day of his spring. The resurrection of the human body is just as sure as the resurrection of the vegetable body. The one is not only an image but a pledge of the other. When a human corpse is laid in the grave, nothing can seem more unlike to life. It seems to be a prey of hopeless dissolution, and were human or created power the only restorer, it would indeed remain for ever the captive of destruction. Men, in every age, have felt the difficulty of believing in a resurrection, owing to the immense energy which it demands. To raise a single dead body to life, would require a vast exertion of strength, and what then will it be to raise all the innumerable millions of our race, who have ever been or shall be scattered through earth and water, and to raise them at once! We need to have the aid of sense in addition to that of testimony to help us to the belief of a resurrection. We need to see a power at work, which can penetrate the deepest recesses of every substance, and comprehend the wide earth under its dominion, to give an abiding persuasion